Roadkill Ghost Choir brings its excellent next-big-thing show

Central Florida indie-folk band performs at The Standard on Jan. 24

Many Florida-based bands sound a bit like the state itself: sweaty, off-kilter and gleefully eccentric. But DeLand sextet Roadkill Ghost Choir possesses all the trappings of a soon-to-be national success: lavish, intricate, Southern-influenced songwriting that sounds universally epic. An alluring, long-haired front man whose soul-stirring vocals call to mind those of indie-rock royalty like Wilco and Fleet Foxes. And a skillfully precise band, including three brothers, laying down a solid foundation. And even a glowing online recommendation from TV personality, stand-up comic and rabid podcaster Joe Rogan, a strange and perplexing occurrence that nonetheless produced over 90,000 online hits for Roadkill Ghost Choir’s song “Beggar’s Guild.”

Listening to this undeniably magnetic band produces that priceless feeling of discovering the best thing since sliced bread just a smidge after other diehard music fans — but just a smidge before blowing up with the rest of the mainstream music world, who will undoubtedly catch the buzz too.

Drift caught up with frontman Andrew Shepard via email while the band he humbly described as “still pretty small” was on the road to talk about recording close to home, embracing DIY ethics, and performing in St. Augustine for the first time.

AS: Roadkill Ghost Choir formed in January 2011. I asked Maxx, Zach, and Kiffy to play with me at a show that I didn't want to play on my own. Garza came in soon after and Joey was brought in during the recording of the EP.

Drift: Had any of you guys played together or separately in other bands?

AS: Garza was in a band called An Introduction to Sunshine and Joey was in a band called Loud Valley before they each joined Roadkill Ghost Choir. Maxx, Zach, and Kiffy also played together for a little while in a band called Quiet Man. But now everyone is just working on Roadkill Ghost Choir.

Drift: Did you guys set out with a particular sound you wanted to achieve with RGC?

AS: From the time Roadkill started, there's been a natural progression from the way the music began to what it is now. We're constantly trying to expand our sound and move forward as a band.

Drift:How does the songwriting process work? Since you’re the frontman, are you in charge?

AS: I write the songs mostly on guitar and demo them out for the rest of the band. After that, we all come together to write and arrange our parts.

Drift: Your Quiet Light EP was released last fall. Is that the only recording you guys have put out so far? And do you have ant plans for a full-length in the future?

AS: Yeah, Quiet Light is our debut release. Right now, we're working on demos and finishing songs for the full-length. We're looking forward to going back to the studio.

Drift: Tell us about the recording process at North Avenue Studios in Orange City. Seems like it’d be a small place, but David Plakon really knows what he’s doing, right?

AS: We usually work in North Avenue from the demoing of a song to the final recorded version. We’re all really used to playing and recording there, so it makes for a good atmosphere to be creative. Dave helped us a lot, too, with songs like "Drifter" and "Devout." He's really good at approaching songs from a different angle and experimenting with sounds. He's also very talented at arranging and editing songs. We sometimes tend to make really long songs, so it was really good to have him there to tell us, “Maybe we should lose this verse" or "Let's try this trumpet part here.” He actually introduced us to Joey Davoli during the recording of Quiet Light.

Drift: Did you guys have any label or publicity support with the album? Or are you happy going the DIY route?

AS: We self released it and at the moment have no plans of signing to a label. So far, that’s worked really great for us. But if we were approached by a label that we liked and that believed in us, I think we'd definitely consider it. DIY music is getting easier everyday for artists to put themselves out there and really promote themselves without a label. It's just a matter of really believing in what you're playing and hoping that others will latch on to it.

Drift: Florida’s rising indie rock community has definitely latched on to you guys. What are your thoughts on the scene in and around Central Florida?

AS: Saskatchewan, Day Joy, Maximino, and The Passing Afternoons are all bands we play with frequently around Central Florida. The music scene is getting better here, but it still has some growing to do. We play Will's Pub in Orlando mostly when we play in Central Florida. They're one of the last few beacons of good live local and touring music.

Drift: How much touring have you guys done outside of the state or with bigger acts?

AS: We just started touring in September and have been on and off the road since then. We love it and we're looking forward to playing a lot of new places this year. We've played with Dead Confederate, David Dondero, and The Whigs. We haven't headlined a tour yet since we're still a pretty small band.

Drift: Have you received a particularly good reception anywhere on last year’s tours or the one you just finished in the Southeast?

AS: We love Athens, Ga. — that town is always a good time. The shows in January have been really cool, too. Probably our favorite tour run so far.

Drift: Have you guys made it up to St. Augustine yet?

AS: I don't think we've ever played in St. Augustine before, so we're looking forward to checking out The Standard. Whenever I think of St. Augustine, the old fort always comes to mind. I've never actually spent that much time there, though. I did see Wilco there. And that was amazing.

Drift: The organizer of March’s Savannah Stopover Festival said Roadkill Ghost Choir was one of the festival bands she was most excited about.

AS: We’re really looking forward to Savannah Stopover Fest. There are a ton of great bands playing, and we feel really lucky to be a part of it.

Drift: With so much good stuff on the horizon, do you guys all have day jobs?

AS: Pretty much everyone in the band has some sort of job except me. I'm a bum. But at the moment, everyone is pretty focused on Roadkill and going out on the road as much as possible.

Drift: Do you guys have anything beyond that planned for 2013?

AS: Right now, we're just focusing on touring and writing songs. There is some stuff in the works but we can't really talk about it just yet. We're really excited about 2013.

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Roadkill Ghost Choir performs on Thursday, Jan. 24 at The Standard, 200 Anastasia Blvd. The show starts at 8 p.m., with Uncle Marty, Warmouth, Basket Face and DJ BZB opening. Tickets are $5, and more information can be found at www.TheStandardFL.com or by calling 342-2187.